Police identify shooter who killed 4 in downtown Cincinnati

A gunman opened fire Thursday in a building in the heart of Cincinnati, sending people scrambling across the city's Fountain Square amid cries of "Shooter!" Police said four people including the gunman were killed. (Sept. 6)
AP

Police Chief Eliot Isaac said three or four officers exchanged gunfire with the shooter, but added that it was not immediately clear whether they shot him or he killed himself.

No motive for the carnage had immediately been determined. Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley said the gunman appeared to target random people during the "horrific" attack.

"There's something deeply sick at work here and we as a country need to work on it," Cranley said.

Isaac said the rampage took place on the loading dock and then the lobby of the Fifth Third Center, a 30-story bank building in the heart of downtown. A phalanx of police officers and ambulances rushed to the scene at the height of morning rush.

City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld was the first city official to reveal that the assault had resulted in deaths.

"Terrible shooting incident in the heart of our city this morning," Sittenfeld tweeted. "Multiple shot, and tragically there are fatalities. Details still emerging. Pray for our city."

A witness said he heard up to 15 shots. Leonard Cain was entering the bank when someone alerted him to the shooting. He said a woman was also walking into the bank and people tried to get her attention, but she had headphones on.

"She walked in the door and he shot her," Cain said.

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Police block off Walnut Street, after an active shooter killed multiple people at Fifth Third Center and Fountain Square in Downtown Cincinnati Thursday, September 6, 2018. MEG VOGEL, The Enquirer/Meg Vogel

A woman is comforted by authorities stationed outside the University of Cincinnati Medical Center's Emergency room following a mass shooting in downtown Cincinnati that left four dead and several injured, Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, in Cincinnati. (Kareem Elgazzar, The Cincinnati Enquirer) Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer,

A helicopter circles the Fifth Third Center, after an active shooter killed multiple people at the Fifth Third Center and Fountain Square in Downtown Cincinnati Thursday, September 6, 2018. The Enquirer/Meg Vogel

Police block off Walnut Street, after an active shooter killed multiple people at Fifth Third Center and Fountain Square in Downtown Cincinnati Thursday, September 6, 2018. MEG VOGEL, The Enquirer/Meg Vogel

Police block off Walnut Street, after an active shooter killed multiple people at Fifth Third Center and Fountain Square in Downtown Cincinnati Thursday, September 6, 2018. MEG VOGEL, The Enquirer/Meg Vogel

Coroner unit just arrived at University of Cincinnati Medical Center emergency room following the active shooter at Fifth Third Center in downtown Cincinnati on September 6, 2018. Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer

Fifth Third employees leave the Fifth Third Center, after an active shooter killed multiple people at the Fifth Third Center and Fountain Square in Downtown Cincinnati Thursday, September 6, 2018. The Enquirer/Meg Vogel

Fifth Third employees leave the Fifth Third Center, after an active shooter killed multiple people at the Fifth Third Center and Fountain Square in Downtown Cincinnati Thursday, September 6, 2018. The Enquirer/Meg Vogel

Fifth Third employees leave the Fifth Third Center, after an active shooter killed multiple people at the Fifth Third Center and Fountain Square in Downtown Cincinnati Thursday, September 6, 2018. The Enquirer/Meg Vogel

Police block off Walnut Street, after an active shooter killed multiple people at Fifth Third Center and Fountain Square in Downtown Cincinnati Thursday, September 6, 2018. MEG VOGEL, The Enquirer/Meg Vogel

Authorities are stationed outside the University of Cincinnati Medical Center's Emergency room following a mass shooting in downtown Cincinnati that left four dead and several injured, Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, in Cincinnati. Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer

A woman is comforted by authorities stationed outside the University of Cincinnati Medical Center's Emergency room following a mass shooting in downtown Cincinnati that left four dead and several injured, Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, in Cincinnati. (Kareem Elgazzar, The Cincinnati Enquirer) Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer,

A woman is comforted by authorities stationed outside the University of Cincinnati Medical Center's Emergency room following a mass shooting in downtown Cincinnati that left four dead and several injured, Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, in Cincinnati. Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer

Police investigate the scene after a multiple fatality shooting at the Fifth Third Bank building on Fountain Square after a shooting with multiple fatalities on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, in downtown Cincinnati. Four people are dead including the shooter and several injured after an "active shooter" situation in Downtown Cincinnati at the Fountain Square Fifth Third location.
Albert Cesare

Investigators walk around Fountain Square, after an active shooter killed multiple people at the Fifth Third Center and Fountain Square in Downtown Cincinnati Thursday, September 6, 2018. The Enquirer/Meg Vogel

Authorities are stationed outside the University of Cincinnati Medical Center's Emergency room following a mass shooting in downtown Cincinnati that left four dead and several injured, Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, in Cincinnati. Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer

FBI, Cincinnati police, fire and other emergency agencies respond to Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati for an 'active shooter' just after 9 am Thursday. Police confirmed four dead, including the shooter and several injured. Liz Dufour/The Enquirer

Authorities are stationed outside the University of Cincinnati Medical Center's Emergency room following a mass shooting in downtown Cincinnati that left four dead and several injured, Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, in Cincinnati. Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer

Fifth Third employees leave the Fifth Third Center, after an active shooter killed multiple people at the Fifth Third Center and Fountain Square in Downtown Cincinnati Thursday, September 6, 2018. The Enquirer/Meg Vogel

FBI, Cincinnati police, fire and other emergency agencies respond to Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati for an 'active shooter' just after 9 am Thursday. Police confirmed four dead, including the shooter and several injured. Liz Dufour/The Enquirer

Fifth Third employees leave the Fifth Third Center, after an active shooter killed multiple people at the Fifth Third Center and Fountain Square in Downtown Cincinnati Thursday, September 6, 2018. The Enquirer/Meg Vogel

People stand on the corner of Walnut and Sixth Street to watch the scene where an active shooter killed multiple people at Fifth Third Center and Fountain Square in Downtown Cincinnati Thursday, September 6, 2018. The Enquirer/Meg Vogel

Fountain Square is empty three hours after an active shooter killed multiple people at Fifth Third Center and Fountain Square in Downtown Cincinnati Thursday, September 6, 2018. MEG VOGEL, The Enquirer/Meg Vogel

Police block off Walnut Street, after an active shooter killed multiple people at Fifth Third Center and Fountain Square in Downtown Cincinnati Thursday, September 6, 2018. MEG VOGEL, The Enquirer/Meg Vogel

Shattered glass and police tape are visible at the Fifth Third Bank Center at Fountain Square Thursday, September 6, 2018. Four people are dead including the shooter and several injured after an "active shooter" situation in Downtown Cincinnati at the Fountain Square Fifth Third location. Albert Cesare

During a time that would have been busy with people during their lunch hour, Fountain Square is quiet with police caution tape flapping in the breeze, after a deadly shooting in front of Fifth Third Center. The shooting, just after 9 am, left four dead, including the shooter, and two wounded. Liz Dufour/The Enquirer

Bullet holes are visible at the Fifth Third Bank Center at Fountain Square Thursday, September 6, 2018. Four people are dead including the shooter and several injured after an "active shooter" situation in Downtown Cincinnati at the Fountain Square Fifth Third location. Albert Cesare

Police investigate the scene after a multiple fatality shooting at the Fifth Third Center on Fountain Square after a shooting with multiple fatalities on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, in Downtown Cincinnati. Albert Cesare/The Enquirer

Duke Energy Convention Center features a special design to honor the lives of those lost during the Fifth Third Bank shooting in Downtown. The colors represent the colors of the City seal, the design also reinforces the #CincyStrong sentiment. Photo shot Thursday September 6, 2018.
Cara Owsley/The Enquirer

Duke Energy Convention Center features a special design to honor the lives of those lost during the Fifth Third Bank shooting in Downtown. The colors represent the colors of the City seal, the design also reinforces the #CincyStrong sentiment. Photo shot Thursday September 6, 2018.
Cara Owsley/The Enquirer

Police said two people were wounded. The University of Cincinnati Medical Center said two victims died at the hospital and that one survivor was in critical condition and another was in serious condition.

"We prepare for situations like these and hope they never happen," said Amanda Nageleisen, UC Health spokeswoman. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and all involved."

Radio traffic indicated other victims may have been transported to Good Samaritan Hospital.

Gov. John Kasich and Ohio's senators, Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown, said they were monitoring the situation.

"There was a senseless act of gun violence on the streets of Cincinnati this morning," Kasich said. "I’ve spoken with the mayor and informed him the state will provide any necessary resources to the local police."

The building is located in Fountain Square, a hub for entertainment and dining in the city.

Fifth Third Bank is one of Cincinnati's dominant financial institutions with 121 local branches. The shooting took place at the corporate headquarters, a skyscraper on Cincinnati's main downtown square.

"What a sick, tragic way for this day to begin," Sittenfeld tweeted. "The scourge of gun violence leaves only loss."